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How I Became Interested in Natural Beauty

People often ask how I became interested in making natural skincare products. The answer is simple—I grew up around them.

My mom loved gardening, preserving food, and using herbs in everyday life. Some of my earliest memories are of picking berries, harvesting vegetables, canning, and spending time outdoors. Making things by hand was simply part of our family. Those experiences taught me to appreciate plants long before I understood the science behind them.

As I got older, that childhood curiosity turned into a passion for learning. I wanted to understand not only how natural ingredients worked, but why. That led me to study aromatherapy, botanical ingredients, cosmetic formulation, and the chemistry behind plant-based skincare.

Since then, I've spent years reading research, taking classes, experimenting with formulations, and earning my certification in aromatherapy. I also had the privilege of writing 200 Tips, Techniques & Recipes for Natural Beauty, which allowed me to share that passion with readers around the world.

One thing hasn't changed over the years: I'm still learning.

The world of natural skincare is constantly evolving. New ingredients become available, better research is published, and our understanding of essential oil safety and cosmetic science continues to improve. That's one of the reasons I continue updating Fresh Picked Beauty—to share what I've learned while remaining open to new evidence.

I believe you can appreciate the beauty of nature while also embracing good science. To me, those two ideas work best together.

Whether you're making your very first lip balm or formulating more advanced skincare products, I hope this site helps you create beautiful, safe, and effective products with confidence.